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Hullo All,

We are the prod owners of a '90H Autotrail, with a trusty 2000cc petrol engine. I've been advised to find a 'decent' Peugeot 405, with the high bhp diesel engine, on the basis that the transfer is relatively straightforward, and will 'transform' the 'van, taking the fuel consumption > 26mpg, & the cruising speed as far as 65mph...

Has anyone undertaken this swap? All responses will be very gratefully received, as I now have a donor vehicle lined up, and am hovering between doing it, or not!

Many thanks in advance for all replies!
Barney & Clair

it is a long time consuming transplant,you will need all the differant engine mountings,fuel pump,relays,for heater plugs,additional wiring to the ignition,exhaust and mountings,Etc Etc,and the gearbox will have differant gearing in your pertol to the diesel.so you will have to change the gearbox and the drive shafts, I have a fiat elddis autostratus as in my gallery and get 26/28 mpg and it has no problems cruising at 60/65 all day long and is now comming up to 100,000,I have been doing some tests with HHO and made a quick one and increased the mpg to 34 mpg.Its up to you but as petrol is a little cheaper,and less costly on spares than diesels that why I love the petrol engine.

Pete.

Hi folks,

I'm assuming that your van is based on the Talbot Express/J5/C25/Ducato? If so, the 405 (or 505) engine is the equivalent. Two things come to mind here: firstly, I don't think you will get any major improvement in power or mpg unless (perhaps) the replacement engine has a turbo - even then I don't think it would be worth the hassle.

Secondly, and probably more relevant, the 405 and 505 engines were 'in-line', whereas your van is transverse. The gearbox in your van incorporates a differential within the bellhousing, so it is most unlikely that the bolt arrangement between the car engine and the van gearbox will match up. (Actually I would be very interested to know if they do match!)

I go along with Pete; stick with the petrol engine; there are things that can be done to it to improve performance, e.g. mods to the inlet and exhaust systems etc., if that's what you want. Change it by all means for a higher bhp 405/505 petrol one if it will fit (and please let me know if it does!) but it really isn't a good idea to go diesel!

Kind regards

Dutch

Thanks guys!

Delfin Designs recommended the TD upgrade, hence the interest, but I have to say that i trust the old thing wiht the petrol in it, especially now we've done the manifold studs (thanks, Bealach na Baa), and sone 2 x 2,000 mile trips to Scotland & back with no drama.

Hell, who wants to go over 55 anyway?

Regards
Barney